WO2 Tony Kennedy, right, and WO2 Mick Kelly take time out from preparing a lesson at the School of Artillery. Photo by Cpl Alisha Carr, Army newspaper

A 105mm Hamel Gun looks over the beach on the Strand park in Townsville as fireworks finalise 1RAR's 57th Birthday celebrations last year, demonstrating the varied role of the modern gunner. Photo by Cpl Belinda Mepham, Army newspaper

Gunners on target at Puckapunyal

Training Command Reporter Cpl Alisha Carr explains how the School of Artillery serves the Army.

GUNNERS can take pride in the fact that they have been trained in a unique establishment – this is the message portrayed by the School of Artillery’s CO/CI Lt-Col Peter Gates during a recent interview with Army.

Lt-Col Gates says the primary role of the Puckapunyal-based school is to provide combined arms individual training across a range of disciplines, including field artillery, mortars, surveillance and target acquisition and ground-based air defence.

“The courses we run – from IET to courses for junior majors and senior captains – encompass the practical and theoretical range of skills required by many arms corps,” he says.

“It is important to note that the School of Artillery has recently become the centre for all surveillance training in the Army.”

Lt-Col Gates says the school ensures a quality product is delivered to Land Command by designing training packages the user has deemed necessary.

The school boasts 150 instructional staff, including a battery that provides support to gun and mortar courses.

Instructional staff are divided into three separate Wings – Surveillance and Target Acquisition, Fire Support Wing and Ground-Based Air Defence, each containing between 15 and 30 instructors.

The course all young gunners must pass in order to officially enter the corps is the six-week IET course, which Lt-Col Gates says generally receives positive feedback from trainees.

“We are very conscious of bridging the gap between when they leave the Army Recruit Training Centre and arrive here – we attempt to minimise disruption. We have a responsibility to complete their all-corps training so they can work effectively in their units.”

The School of Artillery was established in 1855 at Middle Head in Sydney. Later it moved to North Head where it remained until 1997, the year it relocated to Puckapunyal.

“Commanding such a prestigious and historically-rich establishment is a challenging experience.

“It is also a great opportunity and the pinnacle of my career to date. Not only is the school doing very important work, whatever we give to trainees now we will see in the Land Army some time in the future. It is immensely rewarding.”

Lt-Col Gates said he anticipated the major changes the school will see in the future would be equipment-driven changes.
“A range of new equipment will be coming in until about 2010. More so, the school is moving away from just being a school for gunners. It is now a school for every corps that has anything to do with air defence and surveillance and target acquisition, reflected in the fact that we train infantry and armoured corps personnel.”

Maj Russell Hamsey is the SI at the Surveillance and Target Acquisition Wing at the school and recently transferred to the Australian Army after having spent 25 years in the Canadian Army.

An instructor at the school since December 13 last year, he says after a three-year exchange posting at the Land Warfare Development Centre, the last thing he wanted to do was return to Canada to shovel snow.

“My Wing and I teach all surveillance and target acquisition subjects for the Army, which basically covers all current and new equipment coming in from Project Ninox, the Thermal Surveillance System and Ground Surveillance Radar,” he says.

“We run a number of courses, including Radar Maintenance, Weapon Locating Radar and courses for Artillery Meteorology Surveillance trades.”

Maj Hamsey says his is an extremely busy wing, having run five courses already this year.

“The courses definitely suit the trades adequately. Most surveillance-trained soldiers are posted to 131 Target Acquisition

“The IET course should be longer than six weeks but it definately produces a soldier capable of efficiently carrying out their job.”

Bty in Brisbane, where they provide surveillance in support of dismounted infantry operations.”

IET Instructor Sgt Michael Troy says this is his second year at the School of Artillery.

“The IET course should be longer than six weeks but it definitely produces a soldier capable of efficiently carrying out their job,” he says.

“Module One is an IMT component and runs for two weeks – this should be covered at Kapooka.

“When soldiers arrive at the school, we, as instructors, have to move away from our trade and teach basic soldier skills, including one week out bush where we cover infantry skills.”

He says the IET course also includes a communications phase and of course, the gun phase, where trainees learn the basics of their trade in artillery.

Reserve IET from 41 Fd Bty on the Gold Coast, Gnr Daniel Menefy, says he chose artillery because it’s the only place to be.
“Also because we get to blow stuff up, I suppose,” he says.

Another Reserve IET from the same unit, Gnr Graham Kemp, says he joined artillery because of a tradition in his family.
“I’m confident that the skills taught here will enable me well at my unit. I’m 42, and keeping up with the young guys has probably been the most rewarding aspect of the course.”

ARA IET Gnr Ross Edwards says he also joined artillery because of the history and tradition associated with the corps.
“I always wanted to be a soldier in a combat role,” he says.

“The gun phase has been the best part of the course but the other phases were definitely necessary for our overall training as gunners.”

So, after gaining an insight into the School of Artillery, it seems making a good gunner involves much tenacity, endurance and substantially more than a desire to watch things explode.